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NASA is preparing for its next mission on Mars in 2020 in the lava fields of Iceland, completing the mission of Corriosity probe that has been exploring the red planet for life since 2012.
The Lampahron lava field was located at the foot of Langeokol, Iceland's second largest ice block in the west of the island, for three weeks last July, at the site of some 15 scientists and scientists. engineers sent by NASA.
The volcanic island located in the center of the North Atlantic resembles the nature of Mars with its black basalt sand, wind-sculpted dunes, black rocks and nearby peaks.
"This is an excellent simulation of Mars exploration and learning how to conduct Martian rovers," said Adam Delorier, Mission Control Space Services Manager.
NASA commissioned the Canadian company based in Ottawa to test a prototype spacecraft as part of the Sand-E project.
With its white sidewalls and orange structure, the small electric vehicle moves on four tires driven by two side engines that act as an excavator with 12 small car batteries concealed inside.
"This probe is supernatural," said Adam Delorier. "The probe we have on Mars and the Moon is very influenced by the environment and conditions in Iceland".
"The lunar probe is not prepared for rain."
The sensor, equipped with sensors, a computer and a two-lens camera and remote-controlled, moves at a speed of 20 centimeters per second. It weighs 570 kg.
Its speed should be slow so that the sensor can collect data and images appropriately, says Canadian Robotics Engineer Mark Vandermullen.
The slow speed that it records in the lava field is two or four times faster than the speed at which it will depend on the surface of the planet.
The sensor collects data with the help of sensors and a camera, clbadifies them in its environment and sends them to the truck engineers.
Engineers then collect the data and transmit it to a tent where scientists gather to simulate how data is sent from Mars to Earth.
The probe exploring Iceland is a prototype of what will be sent to Mars next year.
The latter, who have not yet received a name, will be able to collect samples and store them in tubes transported by subsequent missions on Earth.
Since the prototype is unable to do so, the researchers go to the study area with radio measuring devices and other data collection equipment. The sites are selected to study how the chemical and physical properties of sand and rocks change as they move from the glacier to a nearby river.
Before Mars became a viable frozen desert with an average temperature of minus 63 degrees Celsius, scientists thought the planet had common characteristics with the sub-polar island.
"The mineral composition of Iceland is very similar to that we could find on Mars," says an badistant geology professor at A & M Texas University in Eonig.
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